Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698938524275.pdf (United Kingdom)
SUPPLEMETNARY SUBMISSION FROM PERTH & KINROSS COUNCIL Consultation was carried out in various sites across Kinross-shire 1.

Female - Mum, 3 children and grandma.

All family Kinross now Finding a Site Very hard to find a site and to move.

On a field etc.

Moved straight away – sites always full Living on a Site Kinross:  Needs cleaned up  Toilets – out of this world – so dirty- won’t use.

 Showers – use MOTO services  Extra electricity on top of £50.00 weekly rent.
How sites are run Reporting issues: Can tell but nothing will happen, your choice, you pulled up here.

Using Services that are for everyone Education: Hard because kids get bullied – name calling.

Don’t believe in High School – learn our way of life.

Like you coming and asking questions, really very helpful Could do with people like you in England.

2.

Female - 29years old and 4 children.

Gypsy all my life.
Gypsy all my life.

Finding a site Finding somewhere to stay: In some places we are escorted by police – on waste ground – asked to move on.

Not long in 1 place – 2 weeks sometimes.

Sites – location Some in very bad places – industrial sites and motorways.

Living on a site Why Kinross: For a break, every year.
How sites are run Kinross sites:  Very dirty  See rats in the rubbish bags – saw 10 rats  Kids out playing  Toilets really rotten – you should have a look  Rat holes around fence – boy has impetigo  Would not complain – no, can’t, travellers are different, they would just tell you to leave.

Good site would be clean – like a holiday site.


Using services that are for everyone Doctor: No, fine Got a school straight away – 2 children at school Going to Aberdeen in 2 months – need to find another school Scotland is a lovely country How do you feel about questions?

- Yes, alright.

3.

Mum - Late 20’s and 2 children Finding a site Awkward.
Police escorted, 1 at front, 1 at back Given an hour to have something to eat then moved on Get Hounded out of the country People don’t like us – call us gypsy bastards, pikeys.

We are cleaner than a lot of people.

Sites – location in Kinross No houses, not getting watched by people.

Somewhere to settle, not getting moved.

Living on a site Here for 3 years OK, toilets could do with a jet wash, a good bleach.

How sites are run Would not complain On another traveller man’s ground.
Children settled at school.

Good site would have own toilet and shower.

Using services that are for everyone Health Fill forms in – can’t read, had to get partner to help.

School until 11 only.

Questions from us?

Yes , alright.

4.

Woman - 60 years old, long term resident, 3 years+ Toilets not always as dirty as they are today – some residents don’t treat the facilities well.

Finding a site - Living on a site - How sites are run - Using services that are for everyone - 5.
Female - 18 years old plus 9 month baby and 15year old sister.

2 years settled here Finding a site Really difficult, pull on laybys – moved on.

Appelby fair can go there no problems.

Bought yard and chalet due to difficulties.

Leave your pitch and someone else will take it.

Living on a site Bad sites – filth, rats, bins.

Clean site would be a good site with your own plot.

How sites are run Complain – can’t complain, they think travellers can run with the rats.
Most people clean inside caravans but some don’t clean their plots.

No option to move around, too difficult.

Appelby Fair – trying to shut it down because there has been trouble – particular families – avoid them, don’t want to be in their company.

Some hotels don’t like travellers using their bars.

Car park closed to Travellers.

Using services that are for everyone Health – sometimes dentists say they want a permanent address and won’t help.
School – would like to go to college but have no qualifications.

Wnt to Campus – conversation in front of boys were shameful.

We don’t talk about certain topics in the company of boys.

Called names – “gypsy, the colour of Fanta”.

My child will go to Primary but not high school.

6.

Female - 60+ years old Finding a site Not many, you can get on, it’s hard.

Some you have to go to meetings before you get on.

Loads of forms to fill in.


Location Always out of town, have to get someone to drive you in, bad thing.

Never get a site in town.

Living on a site This site: Alright, quiet and peaceful.

Facilites, toilets not very nice.

Good site needs a good warden, strict and good company.

A bad site could be particular people, warden is needed to control things.

How sites are run Complain – No, do the best we can, keep outside tidy.

I’ve never heard of anyone making complaints.


Using services that are for everyone Health – Alright, dentist can be difficult.

12 year old has abscess and is in pain but dentist is unable to see her until 08 June 2012.

Husband has ill health and in Kinross it has been good.

Rosemary, aged 12 (granddaughter) Education School was OK, some people are ignorant to travellers.

There were a few travellers in school.

7.


Female - late 50’s Finding a site Living on a site This site is Ok, the toilets are messy because some people have not cleaned them up after they have used them.

This site is good when it is quiet, when particular people aren’t here.

My mother lives with us and she can’t cope with noise or trouble, it is also difficult now for us to travel because she needs care.

I would like to live on a council site.

I heard a rumour that we may get one in Kinross.


I phoned the council but they had no information about this.

How sites are run Using services that are for everyone 8.

Female – Mother and grand-mother.

Early 60’s Finding a site Some people wreck them, but it is difficult to find somewhere to live.

Finding somewhere is terrible, because you’re a traveller they don’t let you pull up on holiday sites.

Location of Site Always in a wood, out of the community.
If you’re older and can’t drive picking up prescriptions, shopping is hard.

No ice-cream vans, chip van, fish/grocers etc.

Living on a site Going Travelling Transient sites – don’t mix much, kids play at door.

Nothing bad happened.

Sometimes no facilities – paying rent – toilets all smashed and broken – some OK. Good Site Good neighbours, good toilets, clean sites.

Education on site – First Aid, building walls, fences, got certificates.

Ante natal clinics on site.

Laptops for kids.


How sites are run Council in Kircaldy OK.

Worked with them and Save the Children – Council put in swings, building for church – brilliant!

Site warden was lovely!

Complain?

Kept off site, not allowed to visit mother on site, no repairs carried out, intimidation of mum – owner charged.

Mum in hospital.

One site hot water turned off – cold showers, don’t get any joy so didn’t complain – moved off.
Using services that are for everyone Health OK. Got a dentist – never had any problems with seeing a doctor.

School All children at primary school, daughters all drive, ferry kids to school.

Traveller kids used to be blamed for trouble in school.

Different now, teachers are great.

9.

Female - mum 40+ Finding a site Terrible, can’t find a site, too crowded.

Would like more privacy.

Living on a site Own site would be best.

All same extended family.


How sites are run Using services that are for everyone Health Yes, not had any problems, Teachers, Health Visitors on site – all really good.

Community Workers Observations 07.05.12  Women keen to talk and to answer questions.

 Bank Holiday, schools off, estimate 9 children outdoors playing.

 Debris from demolished static caravan lying around.

Gas canisters (2 large) lying around randomly.

 Toilets – not fit for purpose – badly maintained and unclean.
 Shower – meter – 50p, also not fit for purpose and badly maintained.

Extremely dirty.

Jayne Ramsay Cultural & Community Services Perth & Kinross Council 10 July 2012